A Pup and a Pond

Well, the pond is actually finished; all but the sowing of grass seed and placing of plants, which I'm sure will be ongoing for some time.  Joseph unrolled 10 of the big round bales of straw around the edges.  This will help keep runoff from going into the pond, as well as give a good surface to sow grass seed.

That's Rick's canoe.  He and Joseph used it to cut off the overflow pipe in the pond. I wished I'd gotten to watch, but was busy in the house, and they finished before I knew they'd begun.  The pups are having fun in all that straw.

I finished up some snowmen today, and will be wrapping soap during the lulls at one of the pottery shops I'll be minding tomorrow.  Then, it's set-up Friday evening for the Lark Handmade Holiday, my final show this year.  Whew!   I'll leave you with an appropriately-named song I've been enjoying- Ryan Farish  Beautiful .

Thankful 2012

There are many things to be thankful for throughout the year, but one thing I'm especially thankful for this time of year is all the time and effort Joseph has put, along with help from his son, in making sure we've got plenty of firewood, no matter what the winter brings. 

Wishing you a lovely and delicious Thanksgiving, whether surrounded by loved ones, or enjoyed in peaceful solitude.

Hellos and Goodbyes

We knew when we built the pond, we would see an increase in wildlife.  One morning recently, we saw 3 deer.  The following morning, I saw a red fox run across the dam.  My Mom tells me she's heard we've got more than the usual number of fox in the area this year.  I hope that doesn't bode poorly for the chickens.  We've already had one loss this week.  Our beautiful rooster, Hawk, stuck his head in the wire which surrounds our rose garden, and in the struggle to get free, killed himself.  The guys were talking in front of the shop, and noticed some odd movement.  By the time they walked the few yards from the shop to the rose garden, he had broken his neck.  He and I didn't always have the easiest of relationships.  I had to carry a squirt bottle filled with water to ward off his attacks, but for the past month or so, he'd been on his best behavior, and I had stopped carrying it.  It sounds awfully quiet around here without his crowing.

Next weekend is the annual Celebration of Seagrove Potters.  I won't be in the show, as it's strictly for potters, but for the next 6 out of 7 days, I'll be involved behind the scenes, at either the Celebration or filling in at one of the area shops to free up some of the potters.  I feel privileged to live among so many fine and talented folks. I'll leave you with these amazing sculptures to enjoy-    http://woodhengecarvings.com/home/the-sculptures/

Well Wishes Across the Miles

I love this quote I recently found on Soul Soup Sister :
'The plain fact is that the planet does not need more successful people. But it does desperately need more peacemakers, healers, restorers, storytellers, and lovers of every kind. It needs people who live well in their places. It needs people of moral courage willing to join the fight to make the world habitable and humane. And these qualities have little to do with success as we have defined it.' ― David W. Orr, 'Ecological Literacy'

This week, the first of the pumpkins has been canned.  Good thing, as there were only 2 quarts left on the pantry shelves, and one of those went to make Grandma's Pumpkin soup tonight.  There are a couple new laundry bags for this weekend's show, and a new rebar table listed in the shop.  The flowers in the bouquet  are most of what was picked before our first frost.  I'm always sad to see them go. 

It's hard to imagine what so many are going through in the aftermath of Sandy.  The neighborhood where I spent much of my childhood, on Long Island, was apparently quite hard hit.  So many blessings here in our little home.  Hopefully, good thoughts and well wishes do travel across the miles.